vocal (Kim Murphree)

Comment history

Ms. Crispin... I am not sure why you took issue with my post since I acknowledge the existence of segregation and bias in Lawrence....the difference is that I see people in Lawrence who work very hard to overcome those divisions and find understanding. I find hope for the future in that effort. I also know Mr.Monroe and have talked to him and with others from that generation and more recent generations about these issues in an effort to foster more awareness and understanding. ..... I was grateful to see the article.

Great to see Mr. Monroe featured here; he is truly an outstanding person; great Lawrencian. I am glad to see this article that reminds us of so many talented, amazing people who were denied the opportunity to pursue their highest potential because of ignorance. And yes, Lisa, friends are discriminated against today for no other reason than they possess some quality that makes them seem "different" than what is familiar to those who have historically been in control of social and political norms. But, things are changing. Demographics may hold the key to getting rid of some of this. I DO think Lawrence is special in that there are a great many people here who strive to do better, to listen, and think, and work on their individual perceptions, and eliminate practices that discriminate. The vestiges of what we perceive as "other" are harder to eliminate because sometimes people don't even know they carry them. I just believe that stories like this, help us remember, and celebrate those who have had to face such deliberate and despicably imposed limitations. I think of our friends at Haskell, of Sis Vinegar and her family, and I think of Latinos in our midst today; those from Asian countries...we still see "other"...but I believe we CAN overcome...when we apply the most powerful principle to love one another...its not a fluff statement...not something to scoff at..it is a statement of the only principle with the power to give us all a stronger community. Because when these folks were eliminated from participation in the "mainstream" the people who lost out were not only these individuals, the real losers were the "mainstream." Think of all the talent, intelligence, wisdom, insight, perspective, laughter, friendship...all the beautiful human qualities that the "mainstream" missed out on! Once we get that...once we realize that we need each other...ALL of us...then, well, then these stories will truly be about practices of the PAST. That's my hope, anyway. Meantime, thank you to all those who work for a better Lawrence and a better world; and thank you for the positive and strong spirits who had to endure; you are great examples to us all.

My take on this? The guy played us. He got free advertising. Everyone knows that name recognition whether for good or for bad is all good when it comes to sales. Seriously. He is all over the web now, and may even make the national wires...at no cost to him. That's a smart move, even if I don't like the message at all.

Well EXACTLY. It seems obvious that the reason 27th street is taking such a hit is that people want that east-west access without tons of stop lights at every corner and roundabouts, etc. This is terrible for the neighborhood. So perhaps City planners should be asking the SW trafficway builders to find a way to OPEN 31st street from Louisiana to Iowa and to Haskell Ave. to the public long before the project is finished. Make it a priority. I think its a safe bet to say that when 31st opens up to through traffic, the amount of traffic along 27th street will decrease. At least, before we make any permanent changes along 27th, we should wait and measure when 31st is open to have a better idea of the real traffic situation. I would ask the planners, where they thought all that 31st street traffic was going to go when they shut down 31st Street? Surely, they knew that people would discover 27th street as an alternative to the stoplight heavy 23rd street. If you want to slow traffic in neighborhoods, build east-west and north-south arteries that have no traffic slowing devices....the SW trafficway is not the answer to that since most people are trying to get to stores (including the big trucks) to shop or make deliveries. I think most people would like city planners to stop focusing on slowing down the flow of traffic (with more money spent on roundabouts) and focus more on finding alternative streets that help people get to and from their destinations within the City in a timely manner. All to often the professional literature in Municipal Planning forgets the preferences of the public; case in point, roundabouts. When these became the accepted tool in Municipal planning and governance academic and professional literature, they also became the new solution in practice, even if they really weren't necessary....for example: Kasold north of Peterson. $100,000 for not one, but TWO roundabouts on a road that leads to county access. Not sure that any of us believed that expenditure or control was necessary or even preferred. I am aware of the studies that show the success of roundabouts in slowing traffic; the question is do we really want to slow traffic everywhere? Surely in neighborhoods to protect families, but what about supporting commuters, and commerce? Aren't people more likely to go to the store if they can get to and from in a timely manner? I think that if you want to protect neighborhoods like those along the corridor of 27th Street, you should also offer an alternate route for that traffic to flow (something to THINK about as the city grows). For the folks in that neighborhood now, until a permanent solution is found, perhaps we should try some temporary traffic calming solutions, but get 31st OPEN; and next time we close down an access road like that, have a better plan.

Clara...Actually small wind turbines built in the U.S. are generating $$$ as exports to other countries. The sluggish market for wind turbines after the Congress failed to renew the tax credits for start up wind turbine companies in a timely fashion, has, as of last year, been compensated for by sales overseas. If Kansas succeeds in attracting R&D because of its excellent testing ground for wind turbines; that increases the likelihood of wind turbines being manufactured here. I don't know where you get the idea that wind turbines are all being manufactured outside the U.S., but competition is the free market...if Kansas doesn't do it, another state or country will...that's the point...we cannot let this market disappear just because it doesn't benefit one group of corporate owners to the detriment of the citizens of the state of Kansas. Moreover, wind power is not alone as a renewable source. Solar power is a real viable source of renewables, and Representative Tom Sloan was once part of a multi-state group looking at marrying wind and solar through the use of storage batteries. That kind of R&D brings a very credible solution to an economy built around renewables...IF you have the legislative support.

The utter disregard and arrogance displayed here must be answered by the citizens of this State. The Governor has his eyes on 2016 elections and is setting himself up for a claim to Tea Party fame. In the meantime, it seems that he does not care what happens to the citizens of Kansas. Renewable energy is a source of future market and revenues for this state. Kansas has the resources and the ability to attract those businesses if we give them the same kinds of incentives that the oil and gas companies have been given in the past. Renewable energy would be a whole new economy for the state in R&D, manufacturing, and sales, not to mention the excellent results for the environment. So, don't tell me that these people are trying to "add jobs" or "strengthen the State economy" because, clearly, they are not. If you ever doubted that the Koch Brothers own the Capitol, doubt it no more. THIS is the prime example. Knowledge is power, only if you do something with it. We must DO something. Write your legislators...write the other legislators in the state...take out advertisements in western and southeastern Kansas media...ask them if they think they will enjoy fracking, earthquakes and the absence of water. Ask them if they really want all the young talent of this state to move to other places that develop renewable energy; that embrace R&D for more environmentally friendly alternatives? Ask them if they enjoy living in a place run by people who care nothing for the citizens of the state except to profit from their labor and the state's natural resources; without giving anything to the citizens of the state.

I fail to see what the problem was in the first place. If employees would like to have deductions taken from their paychecks, who are these people to deny them? And now, this? Throwing the baby out with the bath water? Why are voters supporting these people? With everything else that we need our legislators to work on, THIS is where they land? And they get paid for it? Ok...how about this. Since they want to take away everything that protects workers so that the government can be run more like a business....let us pass a law that does not allow the state to pay legislators as contracted workers unless they successfully complete their job (and the consumer gets to decide what that looks like) and their work realizes a profit for the state. No bonuses. No healthcare. And we should be able to fire them, yes?

Ok...here's the thing...I know the laws regarding bladed weapons too....but your point doesn't really seem correct, since a gun fires multiple projectiles at a high rate of speed and can do so in multiple directions. But rather than argue what weapon will do more damage to people, since one is too many in my book, how about we just do what we can to make sure that people know how to handle the weapon before they walk around in the school play with one? The gun rights folks are acting from a fear of their own...fear that someone will come and take something from them and they want guns to protect them from "government." I don't share that philosophy; I admit it. So, I just want people to have training before they walk around with a deadly weapon---meaning GUN.